The case was brought under the Environmental Permitting (England & Wales) Regulations 2010 following an Environment Agency investigation which discovered that the company had illegally deposited in excess of 5,000 tonnes of soil, stone, brick, and concrete between July and October 2014.

The illegal waste disposal injured and killed a number of great-crested newts, which are a European protected species, that inhabited the land.

The company had also previously received a caution for environmental offences committed in 2010 and 2011.

This case highlights the importance of ensuring compliance with environmental regulations.